Pa Pae Meditation Retreat, Thailand
Meditation was never in my consideration all my life, until I discovered myself as an “empath” in August 2019, and wanted something to help me alleviate and manage the stress/pain/emotions that I was absorbing from people. When I was young, I guess replenishing does not need much effort. After a long period of time and age catching up, each day I feel drained at the end of the day, sometimes even midday. Hence, I decided to learn meditation.
Meditation is one of the most effective ways of creating that space between you and emotions and equips you with the ability to respond rather than react. For Empaths, coping could be slightly more challenging, regular aura cleansing or carrying around a protective crystal would help.
For me, at first, it was good with the visualisation meditation I found in youtube. However, I wanted to go deeper and meditate without visualisation which was a struggled for me. My mind was too active and loves to ‘monkey’ around. I am still trying…
One day, my find was answered, only to my realisation a little later. Air Asia was having their normal flight promotion and a voice (the voices usually comes to me as ‘thoughts’ since young) said “Let’s go Chiang Mai”. So I bought the air ticket without hesitation — so unlike me who would like to plan my trips. A few weeks later,
I googled to find places to visit in Chiang Mai and I found Pa Pae Meditation Retreat, Pai. I fell in love with the photos they had in their websites and thought to myself “I would like to experience this”. And the rest was history. And I think I found the right meditation for myself.
Dhammakāya is a Pāli term which means “body of dharma”, “body of truth” or the “body of enlightenment”.
Phra Ajahn (Teaching monk) and myself had a one-to-one chat on my last night at Pa Pae. He acknowledged that I have ‘special skills’ which he encouraged me to cultivate via meditation and dhammas. Dhammas is to keep myself (ego) and the buddhists’ precepts in check. And he feels that I will one day find my life purpose thru my meditation.
Phra Pawithai Vajiravijjo (M.D., Ph.D) (Teaching monk) was once a doctor as his profession. Phra Ajahn has a background of scientific and socio-cultural study. He has a medical degree in Thailand, masters degree (maitrise) in educational science (DEA.) and occupational science, and a doctoral degree in medical science from France. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 2008.
Phra Ajahn felt that being a doctor, he is not able to help those with mental health disorders, that affects ones mood, thinking and behaviour that leads to depression, anxiety disorders, addictive behaviours, schizophrenia and eating disorders. I guess there is a reason that I was connected to Phra Ajahn, for, I am able to see beyond the mental state of a physical person.
I appreciate and thank my spirit guides for bringing me this far — for directing me to all the knowledge I gained and to be gained since the day I discovered I am an ‘empath’ and the wisdoms they have given me thru my whole life. I am very grateful to my close friends that accompanied me in my ‘spiritual’ and ‘psyche’ journey. I am hoping one day I am able to help humanity to a great extend with these gifts.
Note: My experience in the meditation. I grew up with Pali chanting and I feel at peace listening to pali morning chanting. I started with visualisation of the crystal ball, however my crystal ball changed to yellow and then orange then with a vibration (on my last night) and it does not stay in the middle of my body (I would guess the middle is our Solar Plexus as there is where our will power is — Phra Ajahn mentioned about the will of the body). My orange ball keep floating up to my Ajna. Usually during after each meditation, people would share their experiences and some would see trees, stones..basically nature. For myself — zero, nothing like that. It was just blackness and of course my mind still ‘monkey’ing around. During my one to one session with Phra Ajahn, he suggested since I am a buddhist, instead of crystal ball or sphere, to try the image of ‘Buddha”. The next day I tried that and it worked perfectly, the image of ‘Buddha” stayed in the middle of my body and my ‘monkey’ mind does not jump around so much. At one point, I realised my eyes was rolled back. Unfortunately, once I realised that, my eyes rolled back front. I wonder if that has any significant to it. There was also one point, I was experiencing something like a projector with slides. One of the slides showed a few algebra formulas. The slide passed by from the top to bottom so fast that I am not able to see the formulas. All I knew it was a few algebra formulas. I recalled my bestie shared this tv projection with me a few times after her meditation and now I know how it looks like. I look forward to a more deeper experience in meditation as I continue my practise…
On my way back from Pai to Chiang Mai, I was reading an interesting book about aura colours, “The Awakened Aura: Experiencing the Evolution of Your Energy Body” by Kala Ambrose.
Below was taken from her book.
“Turquoise — Many references about the colour turquoise in the aura are included in the description of blue. I decided to give turquoise its own classification as a colour in the aura due to the evolutionary changes I have been observing in the auric field in the past decade. I am now seeing more people with a primary colour of turquoise in their aura, and it is noticeably different than the darker teal colour that used to appear with the blue in the aura. This turquoise colour is one that was very predominant during the time of ancient Egypt and is returning again in many auras. People with a predominant amount of turquoise in their aura are old souls who are bringing back with them their knowledge of the ancient ways, especially knowledge to do the ancient healing techniques. Turquoise is the aura represents natural leaders with a strong desire to share their vision, and these people are naturally drawn to teach, heal and inspire.”
With the above and with my aura being the colour of turquoise, I affirmed that my spirit guide has directed me to the right direction — to learn about pranic and psychotherapy healing.
Dhammakaya Meditation
(article taken from https://en.dhammakaya.net/the-meditation/basic-dhammakaya-meditation-practice/)
The Dhammakaya meditation method was revived in Thailand almost 100 years ago by the Great Master Phramongkolthepmuni, famously known as Luangpor Wat Paknam. It is one of the most popular meditation techniques practiced by Buddhists and non-Buddhists around the world. The method is simple, easy, and effective. Everyone can learn how to do it and can achieve inner peace and happiness that you may never would have known existed.
“Dhammakaya” is a Pali word, which means “Body of Enlightenment”. The term appears in many places in the Buddhist scriptures of Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana (Tibetan) schools. The uniqueness of the Dhammakaya meditation is that it teaches about the center of the body as the natural home of the human mind as well as the inner gateway to enlightenment.
The stiller the mind is at its natural home, the deeper the happiness one experiences. Dhammakaya meditation also has a moral impact on the mind. A person who meditates regularly will become gentler, kinder, and more peaceful.
Step-by-Step Instruction
1. The sitting posture, which has been found to be the most conducive for meditation, is the half-lotus position. Sit upright with your back straight, cross-legged with your right leg over the left one. You can sit on a cushion or pillow to make your position more comfortable. Nothing should impede your breathing or circulation. Your hands should rest palms-up on your lap, and the tip of your right index finger should touch your left thumb. Feel as if you are one with the ground on which you sit. Feel that you could sit happily for as long as you like.
2. Softly close your eyes as if you are about to fall asleep. Relax every part of your body, beginning with the muscles in your face, then relax your face, neck, shoulders, arms, chest, trunk and legs. Make sure there are no signs of tension on your forehead or across your shoulders.
3. Close your eyes gently but not completely. Stop thinking about any worldly things. Feel as if you were sitting alone; around you is nothing and no one. Create a feeling of happiness and spaciousness in your mind.
Before starting, it is necessary to acquaint yourself with the various resting points or bases of the mind inside the body.
The first base is at the rim of the nostril, on the right side for men and on the left side for women.
The second base is at the inner corner of the eye, on the right side for men and on the left side for women.
The third base is at the center of the head.
The fourth base is at the roof of the mouth.
The fifth base is at the upper center of the throat.
The sixth base is at a point in the middle of your abdomen, the meeting point of an imaginary line between the navel through the back and the line between the two sides.
The seventh base of the mind is two finger breadths above the navel. This base is the most important point in the body. It is the very center of the body and the point where the mind can come to a standstill.
4. Feel that your body is an empty space, without organs, muscles or tissues. Gently and contentedly rest your attention at a point near the seventh base of the mind at the center of the body. Whatever experience arises in the mind, simply observe without attempting to interfere with it. This way, your mind will become gradually purer and inner experience will unfold.
5. If you find that you cannot dissuade the mind from wandering, then your mind needs an inner object as a focus of attention. Gently imagine that a bright, clear, crystal sphere, about the size of the tip of your little finger, is located inside at the center of the body. Maybe, you cannot imagine anything, but later, you’ll be able to see a crystal ball with increasing clarity. Allow your mind to come to rest at the center of the crystal ball. Use the subtlest of effort and you’ll find that the crystal ball becomes brighter and clearer.
6. If you find that your mind still wanders from the crystal ball, you can bring the mind back to a standstill by repeating the mantra, “Samma-arahang” silently, as if the sound of the mantra is coming from the center of the crystal ball. Repeat the mantra over and over again without counting.
7. Don’t entertain thoughts in your mind. Don’t analyze what’s going on in the meditation. Allow the mind to come to a standstill. That is all that you need to do. If you find that you cannot imagine anything, repeat the mantra “Samma-arahang”, silently and continuously in the mind. If you are not sure about the location of the center of the body, just know that anywhere in the area of your abdomen will do. Don’t be disappointed if you find your mind wandering. It is only natural for beginners. Make effort continuously, keep your mind bright, clear and pure, and in the end, you will achieve success.
8. Keep repeating the mantra. Eventually the sound of the mantra will fade away. At that point a new bright, clear, crystal sphere will arise of its own accord. This stage is called “pathama magga” (primary path). At this stage the shining crystal sphere is connected firmly to the mind and is seated at the center of the body. You will experience a great happiness that you have never known before. With a perfectly still mind focused at the center of the crystal sphere, it will give way to a succession of increasingly purer transcendental inner bodies, until it reaches the “Body of Enlightenment” known as “Dhammakaya”.
Here’s the link to the meditation for your practise (Click on the link). Dhammakaya Meditation for Beginners
Find your inner peace and happiness with meditation.
For those who are in Malaysia and is interested to learn Dhammakaya Meditation:
Dhammakaya Malaysia
7, Jalan Layang-Layang 5, Bandar Puchong Jaya, 47170 Puchong.
47100 Puchong.
Contact # : 03–8080 8106
Dhammakaya Penang
2-G-3, Tingkat Kenari 6, Taman Desaria, 11900 Sungai Ara, Pulau Pinang. Contact # : 019–473 2898
Love to the world!!💞
Peace and Love to all💞
